GM Whiteroses Curse of the Crimson Throne: On A Knife's Edge (Inactive)

Game Master Vanulf Wulfson

Gamon and Jolon swim forward, striking the hag and causing her murky dark blood to stain the water around her.

Order 6th Round
Nicolai, Aloysia
Yvicca -19
Jolon, Gamon

Aloysia does her best to swing away at the hag

Magic Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
Damage if that hits: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Magic Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Damage if that hits: 1d4 ⇒ 2

There really is something pitiful about a martial class hitting for max damage that totals a whopping 5! And yet, I'm too afraid to try to take all the swimming moves that result in AoOs to find some kind of flanking position. Water has foiled me!

Don't forget the Haste on Aloysia, Gamon, and Jolon

"Augifico Hominen" Nicolai calls as he finishes casting his spell on Gamon, causing the Slayer and his weapon to grow in size.
Nicolai casts Enlarge Person on Gamon.

Oh yeah!

Hasted Magic Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 22
Damage if that hits: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Aloysia comes in close to the hag, stabbing with her daggers many times, each strike piercing through its tough hide without issue.

Struggling to make a choice between each of the dangerous targets she casts a baleful gaze at Gamon, trying to ease the pressure on her. DC 16 Will save or be staggered from this mind-affecting fear effect.

Order 6th Round
Nicolai, Aloysia
Yvicca -30
Jolon, Gamon

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Moving even slower than normal through the fog that has now clouded his mind, Gamon strikes at the creature before him once again.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Damage: 1d12 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 6 damage

Gamon, don't forget you're bigger now as well as hasted.

Invigorated by Nicolai's magic, Jolon lashes out at the hag!

Hasted Sword Strike 1!: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 201d10 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 1 = 10
Hasted Sword Strike 2!: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 101d10 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 1 = 2

Oops, I forgot about being big. His attack roll stays the same, but his damage roll will change.

Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (3, 5, 4) + 12 = 24 12 damage

The heavy hitters come in, their attacks slicing through the hag's thick skin and leaving the water more bloodied than before.

Order 7th Round
Nicolai, Aloysia
Yvicca -47
Jolon, Gamon

Aloysia keeps trying to press the advantage

Magic Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 17
Damage if that hits: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 21
Damage if that hits: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Mithril Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 24
Damage if that hits: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Nicolai retrieves the magical pearl from his pouch and with it's power recalls a cast spell to mind.
Nicolai will use the Pearl of Power to recall Burst of Radiance

Aloysia's daggers continue to make a bloody mess of the hag, leaving her eyes dull. The hag is on her last legs, and looking at Gamon's larger size she makes the decision to continue attacking rather than go for the wand on her belt. She lashes out at Aloysia, the half-elf's daggers leaving too many wounds in her "beautiful" skin.

Stab!: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Claw!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Order 7th Round
Nicolai, Aloysia
Yvicca -56
Jolon, Gamon

Is Gamon still staggered?

And how much of the damage from the hag's attacks do I take for Aloysia?

Nope, that was a one and done. 5/round.

Gamon tries to distract the hag from Aloysia with two more swipes of his oversized axe.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 5, 4) + 12 = 22

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (3, 6, 2) + 12 = 23 11 damage

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Jolon presses the attack to try and finish their enemy off.

Hasted Sword Strike 1!: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 131d10 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 - 1 = 5
Hasted Sword Strike 2!: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 101d10 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 1 = 10

With everyone attacking the hag has no real way to defend herself. Your teamwork and coordination have become like a pack of wolves bringing down its prey, even in these unfamiliar surroundings. Soon the hag begins floating up to the bulkhead of the ship, water around her tinged with ruddy death. Combat over!

Investigating her corpse reveals a wand and her incredibly well made spear. Something to look into once you are all on dry land again. Looking into the area she came from reveals several hammocks drifting in the murky waters, strung between beams in this room. The room swirls with a haze of gore, fish heads, and half-eaten eels chumming the circling waters. You've only two areas left to explore, the bow, broken from the rock, and the captain's quarters.

Aloysia makes her way to the bow and looks around for anything of significance

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

After pocketing the wand and spear for further inspection later, Gamon follows Aloysia to the bow and looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Nicolai swims to join the others at the bow, something niggling at the back of his mind "If this supposed to be a plague ship then where are the victims? Where are the bodies?"

Perception check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Jolon gives a shout of victory as they slay the hag, his ancestors joining him. He joins the rest of them swimming as they examine the ship, and his eyes widen when Nicolai voices his suspicions.

"Maybe the sinking of this ship was just a distracting gesture...say this ship is the source of the contagion and sink it to calm the people down...and turn their attention away from looking for the source...There's been a great deal of pageantry surrounding the Queen's response to the outbreak...but we're running into problems that are making it worse constantly, problems WE'RE having to fix without help from the Queen's Physicians or her Grey Maidens...it makes me wonder if she's even actually trying to do anything!"

"Well now, Jolon, that's quite the devious line of thinking. I like that your mind can go down those kinds of roads, maybe we'll be business partners when all this is over," she says finishing with a wink and a sly smile. Shifting from a mischievous tone, to a more serious one, "You're not wrong, though. It does seem a little off."

Jolon frowns at Aloysia's analysis of his analysis. He didn't like being told he was devious. It reminded him that the Shoanti weren't his only ancestors, and sometimes it worried him that those ancestors would start whispering to him too...

"I, uh, thought we were already business partners...kind of..." he replies, trying to lighten the mood.

The front portion of the ship broke away and landed awkwardly here, revealing two splintered decks inside. Its bowsprit shattered and decks filled with debris, the vessel bears an ominous moniker along its fire-scarred hull: Direption. The doors into the forecastle and galley here swing open in the current, their interiors wrecked and disordered.

A quick but thorough examination from Aloysia and Gamon reveals no evidence of supplies in the galley or personal goods in the forecastle. At all. As you are exploring a mass of silt eels swim out of holes in the hull with fangs bared. Since these are tiny creatures it'll be easier to do this without a map. They are currently 30 feet away.

Order 1st Round
Nicolai, Aloysia, Jolon, Gamon
Silt Eels [R: 0, B: 0, G: 0, O: 0, Y: 0, P: 0]

As the creatures burst forth from their hidey holes, Nicolai begins a spell. "Erupit Iubar" he roars as a ball of light explodes amongst the oncoming eels.
Nicolai casts burst of radiance at the eels. All those within the 10' radius burst must make a DC:16 reflex save or be blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds. Those who make their save are dazzled for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds. Since none of them are evil (I hope) they won't take any damage

Tiny as in a swarm...more importantly as in not melee-able?

Tiny yes, swarm no. 6 individual tiny creatures.

Reflex (R)!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Reflex (B)!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Reflex (G)!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Reflex (O)!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Reflex (Y)!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Reflex (P)!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

All of the eels flinch from Nicolai's burst, discombobulated and swinging their heads around.

Order 1st Round
Nicolai, Aloysia, Jolon, Gamon
Silt Eels [R: 0, B: 0, G: 0, O: 0, Y: 0, P: 0; All blind]

Gamon swims forward to meet the eels, not quite reaching them but putting himself between the small creatures and his friends.

Aloysia takes advantage of Nicolai's spell and swims to put herself in flanking position with Gamon, assuming that's a double move since they were 30 feet away, so that's my action this round.

"Dammit, I don't have anything that will help us against these things!" Jolon exclaims.

Any tactical suggestions, folks?

There are a lot of them, but since they're all tiny they'll provoke AoOs getting into your square to bite you. Don't let too many of them get you cause these things are venomous.

Cue ominous music as I say, "I'll be fine! I have rogue saves!"

Aloysia starts to realize her vulnerable position and questions her decision. "Um...I don't suppose you have any more of that haste spell left, do you Nicolai?"

Just to remind everyone, You all get a +1 Insight bonus on attack rolls from the Blessing of the Harrow Nicolai did in the morning.

"Unfortunately, Aloysia, no. I blew most of my spells against the sea witch. The few I have remaining aren't very offensive."

Gesturing, Nicolai casts another spell, this one on himself "Speculum Imaginem" he finishes with a flourish as exact replicas of himself suddenly appear around him.

Swimming forward, he places himself and his figments between the eels and his companions hoping to draw a majority of them to himself.

Nicolai casts Mirror Image on himself, causing 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 images to appear

There are a lot of them, but since they're all tiny they'll provoke AoOs getting into your square to bite you. Don't let too many of them get you cause these things are venomous.

Right, but I'm more asking about damaging them. Swarms like this aren't going to be hurt by my sword, and that's been my major damage dealer in fights, so apart from healing you guys I won't be able to contribute...

It's not a swarm, just six individual tiny creatures. They have no reach so they have to enter your square to attack making them susceptible to AoO's. So swing away.

Then why'd Aloysia say this?

Tiny as in a swarm...more importantly as in not melee-able?

I'm confused now!

He answered that by clarifying that they are tiny but not a swarm, so you can hit them with a melee weapon.

Indubitably

Order 1st Round
Nicolai, Aloysia, Jolon, Gamon
Silt Eels [R: 0, B: 0, G: 0, O: 0, Y: 0, P: 0; All blind]

Jolon swings at one of the eels.

Sword Strike!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

The eels swim a bit listlessly, blinking and trying to clear their eyes. Nicolai casts another spell making more of him appear.

Order 2nd Round
Nicolai, Aloysia, Jolon, Gamon
Silt Eels [R: 0, B: 0, G: 0, O: 0, Y: 0, P: 0;]

Aloysia starts slicing at the two closest eels

Magic Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16
Damage if that hits: 1d4 + 1 + 4d8 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (2, 8, 2, 8) = 22
Mithril Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
Damage if that hits: 1d4 + 4d8 ⇒ (4) + (8, 7, 2, 1) = 22

Hehe, I'm pretty sure each of those is enough to take out two eels? If it's not, then there is 8 bleed damage to dole out to between the two targets.

Jolon tries to attack again.

Sunsilver Sword Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage if that hits: 1d10 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 1 = 10

Aloysia filets two of the eels while they are still blind and confused, but Jolon is having trouble moving his sword through the water with the surety he is used to.

Order 2nd Round
Nicolai, Aloysia, Jolon, Gamon
Silt Eels [R: 0, B: 0, G: 0, O: 0]

Gamon, almost comically-oversized in comparison to the eels, swings twice with his axe at the tiny creatures.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 12 = 21

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 6, 2) + 12 = 25

The force of the water passing from Gamon's blows spin the remaining two eels in place. The reorient themselves and dive away from your group, the blood of their family already crowding the water. Combat over unless you want to take AoOs on them fleeing.

Eels don't have money, Aloysia isn't interested ;)

With the eels scattering, Aloysia starts making her way to the captain's quarters to investigate what's going on with this ship

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Nicolai relaxes a little as the eels swim off "Perhaps we should be off. With this much chum in the water they'll be back, and probably with friends." Putting words into action he swims off after Aloysia.